FACT SHEET: About Us Manned Space Flight Education Foundation and Space Center Houston The Manned Space Flight Education Foundation is Fun and engaging education a 501(c)(3) nonprofit science center and space museum. Space Center Houston is the cornerstone Educational emphasis is placed on science, technology, of its mission to inspire all generations through the engineering and mathematics (STEM) in a fun and wonders of space exploration. It is one of Houston’s engaging way. It uses space exploration to inspire top attractions, the Official Visitor Center of NASA wonder and interest in science and math. Johnson Space Center and Houston’s first and only More than 100,000 teachers and students from Smithsonian Affiliate. around the world visit the center annually to take part in extraordinary learning opportunities. Inspiring young people to choose careers in STEM is one of the outcomes of our program. Education programs are based on evidence of effective learning and teaching methodology. Educational complex and space museum The center features three theaters, live shows, more than 400 space artifacts and numerous permanent and traveling hands-on exhibits telling the exciting future and remarkable past of America’s human spaceflight program – all for one admission price. The experience engages adults and children alike. There is always something new at Space Center Houston with an amazing array of traveling exhibits and astounding events. Space Center Houston has the world’s largest collection of moon rocks and lunar samples for public view. Guests are taken behind the scenes to see NASA Johnson Space Center, the home of Mission Control and astronaut training. Independence Plaza – now boarding Space Center Houston’s new permanent exhibit, Since opening in 1992, Space Center Houston has Independence Plaza presented by Boeing, is an welcomed more than 18 million people and hosts unprecedented, international landmark standing eight nearly 1 million visitors annually in its 250,000- stories tall and displayed in the ferry configuration. square-foot educational complex. Visitors can explore exhibits inside both the shuttle replica and the historic NASA 905 shuttle carrier Space Center Houston generates annually a $73 aircraft. Multiple exhibits grant a rare glimpse into the million economic impact, 925 jobs and $36 million in historic shuttle era and describe its impact on future personal income in greater Houston, according to a exploration. The giant complex is the biggest project for 2016 economic study by Jason Murasko and Space Center Houston since opening. Stephen Cotten, associate professors of economics at the University of Houston - Clear Lake. Space Center Houston | @spacecenterhou | spacecenter.org/news 20160426 .